US20170201041A1 - Connector pair including a connector having a face portion and a magnetic portion connectable with a mating connector having a mating face portion and a mating magnetic portion - Google Patents
Connector pair including a connector having a face portion and a magnetic portion connectable with a mating connector having a mating face portion and a mating magnetic portion Download PDFInfo
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- US20170201041A1 US20170201041A1 US15/461,161 US201715461161A US2017201041A1 US 20170201041 A1 US20170201041 A1 US 20170201041A1 US 201715461161 A US201715461161 A US 201715461161A US 2017201041 A1 US2017201041 A1 US 2017201041A1
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- connector
- mating
- pole portion
- north pole
- south pole
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/62—Means for facilitating engagement or disengagement of coupling parts or for holding them in engagement
- H01R13/6205—Two-part coupling devices held in engagement by a magnet
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
- H01R13/02—Contact members
- H01R13/22—Contacts for co-operating by abutting
- H01R13/24—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted
- H01R13/2407—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted characterized by the resilient means
- H01R13/2428—Contacts for co-operating by abutting resilient; resiliently-mounted characterized by the resilient means using meander springs
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R24/00—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
- H01R24/005—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure requiring successive relative motions to complete the coupling, e.g. bayonet type
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R2103/00—Two poles
Definitions
- This invention relates to a connector pair comprising a connector and a mating connector connectable with each other by using a magnetic force.
- Patent Document 1 discloses the connector (current tap housing) 900 connectable with the mating connector (current supply housing) 950 .
- the current tap housing 900 comprises flat contacts 902 , magnets 904 and a pin-like projection 906 .
- the current supply housing 950 comprises flat contacts 952 , current supply terminals 954 , a permanent magnet 956 , a magnetic carriage 960 movable in an upper-lower direction in FIG. 29 and a rotating device 970 .
- the magnetic carriage 960 is provided with magnets 962 having magnetic poles different from those of the magnets 904 (see FIG. 27 ) and current contact points 964 connected to the current supply terminals 954 , respectively.
- the rotating device 970 is provided with a cutout 974 extending from an entry/exit region 972 .
- a magnetic force (Fd) causes the magnets 962 to be constantly attracted toward the permanent magnet 956 .
- the magnetic carriage 960 is located at a lower part of the current supply housing 950 unless another magnetic force larger than the magnetic force (Fd) causes the magnets 962 to be attracted upward.
- FIGS. 27 to 29 when the pin-like projection 906 of the current tap housing 900 is inserted into the entry/exit region 972 of the current supply housing 950 , the flat contacts 902 are connected to the flat contacts 952 , respectively.
- the magnets 904 overlap the magnets 962 to some extent and therefore receive a turning force from the magnets 962 , wherein the turning force causes the current tap housing 900 to be turned.
- the magnets 904 further overlap the magnets 962 so that a magnetic force larger than the magnetic force (Fd) causes the magnets 962 to be attracted toward the magnets 904 , and the magnetic carriage 960 is moved upward.
- the flat contacts 902 are therefore connected with the current supply terminals 954 , respectively, via the flat contacts 952 and the current contact points 964 .
- the current tap housing 900 includes the four magnets 904
- the magnetic carriage 960 includes the four magnets 962 corresponding to the magnets 904 , respectively.
- These magnets 904 and magnets 962 are arranged in a skilled manner so as to apply the turning force to the current tap housing 900 as well as to move the magnetic carriage 960 upward at an appropriate timing.
- a structure including a precise arrangement of many magnets enables the current tap housing 900 to be connected with the current supply housing 950 .
- the object of the present invention is to provide a new structure in order to connect a connector with a mating connector by using a magnetic force. More specifically, the object of the present invention is to provide a connector pair comprising a connector and a mating connector connectable with each other by using a magnetic force, wherein the connector pair has a structure including a simple arrangement of a small number of magnets.
- One aspect of the present invention provides a connector pair comprising a connector and a mating connector.
- a movement of the connector to a first position along a first direction causes the connector to be mated with the mating connector.
- Another movement of the connector from the first position to a second position along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction completes a connection between the connector and the mating connector.
- the connector comprises a face portion and a magnetic portion.
- the face portion holds the magnetic portion which includes a north pole portion and a south pole portion arranged in the second direction.
- the mating connector comprises a mating face portion and a mating magnetic portion.
- the mating face portion holds the mating magnetic portion which includes a mating north pole portion and a mating south pole portion arranged in the second direction.
- the face portion and the mating face portion face each other in the first direction not only when the connector is located at the first position but also when the connector is located at the second position.
- the magnetic portion receives a force, which urges the connector to be moved toward the second position, from the mating magnetic portion.
- the magnetic portion receives a force, which binds the connector at the second position, from the mating magnetic portion.
- the north pole portion and the south pole portion of the connector are arranged in the second direction, and the mating north pole portion and the mating south pole portion of the mating connector are also arranged in the second direction.
- Such arrangement of the north pole portion and the south pole portion can be easily made, for example, with use of a single permanent bar magnet.
- such arrangement of the mating north pole portion and the mating south pole can be easily made with use of another single permanent bar magnet.
- the simple structure of the thus-arranged small number of magnets exerts a magnet force to connect the connector with the mating connector.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector pair according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein a connector and a mating connector of the connector pair are in an unmated state.
- FIG. 2 is another perspective view showing the connector pair of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a top view showing the connector pair of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector pair of FIG. 3 , taken along line IV-IV.
- FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the connector pair of FIG. 1 , wherein the connector is located at a first position.
- FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector pair of FIG. 5 , wherein the illustrated cross-section corresponds to the cross-section of FIG. 4 .
- FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the connector pair of FIG. 1 , wherein the connector is located at a second position.
- FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector pair of FIG. 7 , wherein the illustrated cross-section corresponds to the cross-section of FIG. 4 , and a vicinity of a locked portion of the connector (the part encircled by dashed line) is enlarged to be illustrated.
- FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a connector pair according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein a connector and a mating connector thereof are in an unmated state.
- FIG. 10 is another perspective view showing the connector pair of FIG. 9 .
- FIG. 11 is a top view showing the connector pair of FIG. 9 , wherein the connector is located at a first position.
- FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector pair of FIG. 11 , taken along line XII-XII.
- FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector pair of FIG. 12 , wherein the connector is located at a second position.
- FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a connector pair according to a modification of the connector pair of FIG. 9 , wherein a connector and a mating connector thereof are in an unmated state.
- FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector pair of FIG. 14 , wherein the illustrated cross-section corresponds to the cross-section of FIG. 12 , and the connector is located at a first position.
- FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector pair of FIG. 15 , wherein the connector is located at a second position, and a vicinity of a locked portion of the connector (the part encircled by dashed line) is enlarged to be illustrated.
- FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a connector pair according to a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein a connector and a mating connector thereof are in an unmated state.
- FIG. 18 is another perspective view showing the connector pair of FIG. 17 .
- FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the connector pair of FIG. 17 , wherein the connector is located at a first position.
- FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the connector pair of FIG. 17 , wherein the connector is located at a second position.
- FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a connector pair according to a forth embodiment of the present invention, wherein a connector and a mating connector thereof are in an unmated state.
- FIG. 22 is another perspective view showing the connector pair of FIG. 21 .
- FIG. 23 is a top view showing the connector pair of FIG. 21 , wherein the connector is located at a first position.
- FIG. 24 is a plan view showing a mating face portion of the mating connector of FIG. 23 from above, wherein a magnetic portion of the connector is illustrated by chain dotted line.
- FIG. 25 is a side view showing the connector pair of FIG. 23 , wherein the mating connector is not illustrated except its outline illustrated by dashed line.
- FIG. 26 is a side view showing the connector pair of FIG. 25 , wherein the connector is located at a second position.
- FIG. 27 is a bottom view showing a current tap housing 900 of Patent Document 1.
- FIG. 28 is a top view showing a current supply housing 950 of Patent Document 1.
- FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view showing the current supply housing 950 of Patent Document 1.
- a connector pair 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises a connector 20 and a mating connector 50 .
- the connector 20 is mateable and connectable with the mating connector 50 .
- the connector 20 is placed at an unmated position (the position shown in FIG. 1 ) which is located just above, or toward the positive Z-side of, the mating connector 50 in an upper-lower direction (Z-direction: first direction). Then, a downward movement, or a movement in the negative Z-direction, of the connector 20 from the unmated position to a first position (the position shown in FIG.
- a forward movement, or a movement in the negative Y-direction, of the connector 20 from the first position to a second position (the position shown in FIG. 7 ) along a front-rear direction (Y-direction: second direction) completes a connection between the connector 20 and the mating connector 50 .
- the connector 20 comprises a housing 200 made of insulator, two contacts 300 each made of conductor and a single magnet 410 .
- the housing 200 has a holding portion 210 , two side portions 220 , two locked portions 230 and one locked portion 240 .
- the holding portion 210 has a cuboid shape which is long in the Y-direction.
- the side portions 220 are located at a rear end, or the positive Y-side end, of the holding portion 210 while protruding outward in a lateral direction (X-direction) from opposite sides of the holding portion 210 in the X-direction, respectively.
- the locked portions 230 are located at lower ends, or the negative Z-side ends, of the side portions 220 , respectively, while projecting forward from the side portions 220 .
- the locked portion 240 is located at a lower end of a front surface, or the negative Y-side surface, of the holding portion 210 , while projecting forward from the holding portion 210 .
- the holding portion 210 has a face portion 212 .
- the connector 20 comprises the face portion 212 .
- the face portion 212 according to the present embodiment is a lower part, or the negative Z-side part, of the holding portion 210 and therefore includes a lower surface, or the negative Z-side surface, of the holding portion 210 .
- each of the locked portions 230 has a stopped portion 232 and a guided portion 234 .
- the stopped portion 232 is an upper surface, or the positive Z-side surface, of the locked portion 230
- the guided portion 234 is a lower surface of the locked portion 230 .
- the stopped portion 232 is a horizontal plane perpendicular to the Z-direction
- the guided portion 234 is a slope oblique to the Z-direction.
- the locked portion 240 has a stopped portion 242 and a guided portion 244 similar to the locked portion 230 .
- the stopped portion 242 is an upper surface of the locked portion 240
- the guided portion 244 is a lower surface of the locked portion 240 .
- the stopped portion 242 is a horizontal plane perpendicular to the Z-direction
- the guided portion 244 is a slope oblique to the Z-direction.
- the connector 20 comprises the three stopped portions (the two stopped portions 232 and the one stopped portion 242 ) and the three guided portions (the two guided portions 234 and the one guided portion 244 ).
- the stopped portions 232 are located in the vicinity of a rear end of the connector 20
- the stopped portion 242 is located in the vicinity of a front end of the connector 20 .
- each of the contacts 300 has a spring portion 310 and a contact portion 320 .
- the contact portion 320 is resiliently supported by the spring portion 310 to be movable in the Z-direction.
- the holding portion 210 holds the contacts 300 arranged in the Y-direction.
- Each of the contacts 300 has an upper end, or the positive Z-side end, and a lower end (i.e. contact portion 320 ), wherein the upper end projects upward, or in the positive Z-direction, beyond an upper surface of the holding portion 210 , and the contact portion 320 projects downward beyond a lower surface of the face portion 212 .
- the connector 20 is mounted on a circuit board (not shown)
- the upper end of the contact 300 is brought into contact with a conductive pattern (not shown) of the circuit board.
- the magnet 410 is a bar magnet and is held by the holding portion 210 so that its north pole and its south pole are arranged in the Y-direction.
- the connector 20 comprises a magnetic portion 400 consisting of the single magnet 410 .
- the magnetic portion 400 includes a north pole portion 412 which is a magnetic north pole and a south pole portion 414 which is a magnetic south pole.
- the north pole portion 412 is a part of the magnet 410 having the south pole portion 414 .
- the face portion 212 holds the north pole portion 412 and the south pole portion 414 arranged in the Y-direction.
- the north pole portion 412 is located forward of the south pole portion 414 .
- Each of the north pole portion 412 and the south pole portion 414 has an upper surface buried within the holding portion 210 while having a lower surface exposed outward on the lower surface of the face portion 212 .
- the mating connector 50 comprises a mating housing 500 made of insulator, two mating contacts 600 each made of conductor and a single mating magnet (magnet) 710 .
- the mating housing 500 has a holding portion 510 and a wall 520 .
- the holding portion 510 has a cuboid shape which is long in the Y-direction.
- the wall 520 projects upward from an upper surface of the holding portion 510 so that the mating connector 50 is formed with a receiving portion 52 .
- the receiving portion 52 is a space surrounded on four sides by the wall 520 .
- the holding portion 510 has a mating face portion 512 .
- the mating connector 50 comprises the mating face portion 512 .
- the mating face portion 512 according to the present embodiment is an upper part, or the positive Z-side part, of the holding portion 210 and is located just under the receiving portion 52 .
- the wall 520 has an inner face surrounding the receiving portion 52 , two recesses 524 and one recess 526 .
- the recesses 524 are located at a rear end of the inner face of the wall 520 while being recessed outward in the X-direction.
- the recess 526 is located at a lower part of a front end of the inner face of the wall 520 while being recessed in the negative Y-direction.
- the inner face of the wall 520 is formed with two lock portions 530 and one lock portion 540 .
- Each of the lock portions 530 and the lock portion 540 is located at an upper end of the wall 520 .
- the lock portions 530 are formed so as to correspond to the recesses 524 , respectively.
- the lock portions 530 project rearward, or along the positive Y-direction, while protruding inward in the X-direction.
- the lock portion 540 is located above the recess 526 while projecting rearward.
- each of the lock portions 530 has a stopping portion 532 and a guide portion 534 .
- the stopping portion 532 is a lower surface of the lock portion 530
- the guide portion 534 is an upper surface of the lock portion 530 .
- the stopping portion 532 is a horizontal plane perpendicular to the Z-direction
- the guide portion 534 is a slope oblique to the Z-direction.
- the lock portion 540 has a stopping portion 542 and a guide portion 544 similar to the lock portion 530 .
- the stopping portion 542 is a lower surface of the lock portion 540
- the guide portion 544 is an upper surface of the lock portion 540 .
- the stopping portion 542 is a horizontal plane perpendicular to the Z-direction
- the guide portion 544 is a slope oblique to the Z-direction.
- the mating connector 50 comprises the three stopping portion (the two stopping portions 532 and the one stopping portion 542 ) and the three guide portions (the two guide portions 534 and the one guide portion 544 ).
- the stopping portions 532 are located in the vicinity of a rear end of the mating connector 50
- the stopping portion 542 is located in the vicinity of a front end of the mating connector 50 .
- each of the mating contacts 600 has a mating contact portion 620 .
- the holding portion 510 holds the mating contacts 600 arranged in the Y-direction.
- Each of the mating contacts 600 has a lower end and an upper end (i.e. mating contact portion 620 ), wherein the lower end is exposed outward on a lower surface of the holding portion 510 , and the mating contact portion 620 is exposed outward on an upper surface of the mating face portion 512 .
- the mating connector 50 is mounted on a circuit board (not shown)
- the lower end of the mating contact 600 is electrically and mechanically connected to a conductive pattern (not shown) of the circuit board via soldering, or the like.
- the magnet 710 is a bar magnet and is held by the holding portion 510 so that its south pole and its north pole are arranged in the Y-direction.
- the mating connector 50 comprises a mating magnetic portion 700 consisting of the single magnet 710 .
- the mating magnetic portion 700 includes a mating north pole portion 712 which is a magnetic north pole and a mating south pole portion 714 which is a magnetic south pole.
- the mating north pole portion 712 is a part of the magnet 710 having the mating south pole portion 714 .
- the mating face portion 512 holds the mating north pole portion 712 and the mating south pole portion 714 arranged in the Y-direction.
- the mating south pole portion 714 is located forward of the mating north pole portion 712 .
- Each of the mating north pole portion 712 and the mating south pole portion 714 has a lower surface exposed outward on the lower surface of the holding portion 510 while having an upper surface exposed outward on the upper surface of the mating face portion 512 .
- the connector 20 when the connector 20 is located at the unmated position (the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 4 ), the connector 20 is in an unmated state where the connector 20 is not mated with the mating connector 50 . If the connector 20 in the unmated state is moved downward, the connector 20 arrives at the first position (the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 ) to change its state into a mated state where the connector 20 is mated with the mating connector 50 .
- the side portions 220 of the connector 20 are inserted into the recesses 524 of the mating connector 50 , respectively, so that the connector 20 is positioned relative to the mating connector 50 .
- the guided portions 234 and the guided portion 244 are guided by the guide portions 534 and the guide portion 544 , respectively, so that the connector 20 is smoothly received into the receiving portion 52 .
- the connector 20 when the connector 20 is located at the first position (the position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 ), the face portion 212 is in contact with the mating face portion 512 , and the contact portions 320 of the contacts 300 are pressed against the mating contact portions 620 of the mating contacts 600 , respectively.
- the connector 20 located at the first position is moved to the second position (the position shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 )
- the connector 20 changes its state into a connected state where the connection between the connector 20 and the mating connector 50 is completed.
- the face portion 212 is kept to be in contact with the mating face portion 512 , and the contact portions 320 slide on the mating contact portions 620 , respectively.
- the face portion 212 may be apart from the mating face portion 512 in the Z-direction to some extent, provided that the face portion 212 and the mating face portion 512 face each other in the Z-direction not only when the connector 20 is located at the first position but also when the connector 20 is located at the second position.
- the projection image of the north pole portion 412 merely overlaps, but is not equal to, the projection image of the mating south pole portion 714 .
- the north pole portion 412 and the mating south pole portion 714 overlap each other to some extent in a perpendicular plane (XY-plane) perpendicular to the Z-direction.
- each of the north pole portion 412 , the south pole portion 414 , the mating north pole portion 712 and the mating south pole portion 714 has the negative Y-side end (predetermined end) which is located forward thereof.
- the negative Y-side end of the north pole portion 412 is placed rearward of the negative Y-side end of the mating south pole portion 714 in the Y-direction
- the negative Y-side end of the south pole portion 414 is placed rearward of the negative Y-side end of the mating north pole portion 712 in the Y-direction.
- the north pole portion 412 and the south pole portion 414 receive attractive forces along the negative Y-direction from the mating south pole portion 714 and the mating north pole portion 712 , respectively.
- the magnetic portion 400 receives a forward force, which urges the connector 20 to be moved toward the second position, from the mating magnetic portion 700 .
- the connector 20 located at the first position can be therefore easily moved forward, or toward the second position, with no external force or with only slight external force applied thereto.
- the north pole portion 412 when the connector 20 is located at the first position, not only overlaps a rear part, or the positive Y-side part, of the mating south pole portion 714 to some extent but also overlaps a front part, or the negative Y-side part, of the mating north pole portion 712 to some extent.
- the negative Y-side end of the north pole portion 412 is placed rearward of the negative Y-side end of the mating south pole portion 714 in the Y-direction
- the positive Y-side end of the north pole portion 412 is placed rearward of the negative Y-side end of the mating north pole portion 712 in the Y-direction.
- the thus-located north pole portion 412 receives the attractive force along the negative Y-direction from the mating south pole portion 714 while receiving a repulsive force along the negative Y-direction from the mating north pole portion 712 .
- the connector 20 located at the first position can be more easily moved forward.
- such attractive force and such repulsive force along the negative Y-direction can be also obtained from another structure different from that of the present embodiment.
- the south pole portion 414 may be located forward of the north pole portion 412 .
- the mating north pole portion 712 needs to be located forward of the mating south pole portion 714 .
- one of the north pole portion 412 and the south pole portion 414 receives an attractive force from one of the mating north pole portion 712 and the mating south pole portion 714 and receives a repulsive force from a remaining one of the mating north pole portion 712 and the mating south pole portion 714 , wherein each of the attractive force and the repulsive force urges the connector 20 to be moved toward the second position.
- each of the magnetic portion 400 and the mating magnetic portion 700 is a single permanent bar magnet (the magnet 410 or the magnet 710 ).
- the north pole portion 412 and the south pole portion 414 are therefore continuously connected to each other in the Y-direction, and the mating south pole portion 714 and the mating north pole portion 712 are also continuously connected to each other in the Y-direction.
- the magnet 410 has a size same as that of the magnet 710 . Accordingly, a simple arrangement, in which the magnet 410 and the magnet 710 under the mated state overlap each other to some extent, causes the attractive force and the repulsive force each of which urges the connector 20 to be moved toward the second position.
- a structure, in which the single magnet 410 and the single magnet 710 are simply arranged, can exert a magnet force to connect the connector 20 with the mating connector 50 .
- the magnetic portion 400 is moved linearly forward, or moved toward the negative Y-side end of the mating connector 50 away from the positive Y-side end of the mating connector 50 along the Y-direction.
- an overlapped region in the XY-plane between the north pole portion 412 and the mating south pole portion 714 gradually increases in its size
- another overlapped region in the XY-plane between the south pole portion 414 and the mating north pole portion 712 gradually increases in its size.
- the negative Y-side end of the north pole portion 412 approaches the negative Y-side end of the mating south pole portion 714
- the negative Y-side end of the south pole portion 414 approaches the negative Y-side end of the mating north pole portion 712 .
- the north pole portion 412 is moved to be away from the mating north pole portion 712 as a whole.
- the magnetic portion 400 receives a force, which binds the connector 20 at the second position, from the mating magnetic portion 700 . In other words, the magnetic force maintains the connected state between the connector 20 and the mating connector 50 .
- the connector pair 10 comprises a plurality of stopping pairs each of which includes the stopped portion (the stopped portion 232 or the stopped portion 242 ) and the stopping portion (the stopping portion 532 or the stopping portion 542 ).
- the stopping pairs are apart from each other in the Y-direction.
- the thus-arranged plurality of the stopping pairs securely lock the connected state between the connector 20 and the mating connector 50 .
- the connector pair 10 may comprise only one of the stopping pairs.
- the stopping portions 532 and the stopping portion 542 are slightly apart from the stopped portions 232 and the stopped portion 242 in the Z-direction, respectively.
- the present invention is not limited thereto.
- the stopping portions 532 and the stopping portion 542 may be in contact with the stopped portions 232 and the stopped portion 242 in the Z-direction, respectively.
- a connector pair 10 A according to a second embodiment of the present invention comprises a connector 20 A and a mating connector 50 A.
- a movement of the connector 20 A from an unmated position (the position shown in FIG. 9 ) to a first position (the position shown in FIG. 12 ) along the Z-direction causes the connector 20 A to be mated with the mating connector 50 A, and another movement of the connector 20 A from the first position to a second position (the position shown in FIG. 13 ) along the Y-direction completes a connection between the connector 20 A and the mating connector 50 A.
- the connector 20 A according to the present embodiment has a structure same as that of the connector 20 and works similar to the connector 20 except that the connector 20 A comprises two magnets 410 A different from the magnet 410 .
- the mating connector 50 A according to the present embodiment also has a structure same as that of the mating connector 50 and works similar to the mating connector 50 except that the mating connector 50 A comprises two mating magnets (magnets) 710 A different from the magnet 710 .
- each of the magnets 410 A is a bar magnet which is same as the magnet 410 except that the magnets 410 A has a size in the Y-direction smaller than that of the magnet 410 .
- Each of the magnets 410 A is arranged similar to the magnet 410 .
- each of the magnets 410 A has a north pole portion 412 A and a south pole portion 414 A arranged in the Y-direction.
- Each of the north pole portions 412 A is a part of the magnet 410 A having the corresponding south pole portion 414 A.
- the connector 20 A comprises a magnetic portion 400 A consisting of the two north pole portions 412 A each of which is a magnetic north pole and the two south pole portions 414 A each of which is a magnetic south pole.
- the face portion 212 holds the north pole portions 412 A and the south pole portions 414 A alternately arranged in the Y-direction.
- the north pole portion 412 A is located forward of the south pole portion 414 A in each of the magnets 410 A.
- Each of the magnets 710 A according to the present embodiment is a bar magnet same as the magnet 410 A.
- Each of the magnets 710 A has a mating north pole portion 712 A and a mating south pole portion 714 A arranged in the Y-direction.
- Each of the mating north pole portions 712 A is a part of the magnet 710 A having the corresponding mating south pole portion 714 A.
- the mating connector 50 A according to the present embodiment comprises a mating magnetic portion 700 A consisting of the two mating north pole portions 712 A each of which is a magnetic north pole and the two mating south pole portions 714 A each of which is a magnetic south pole.
- the mating face portion 512 holds the mating north pole portions 712 A and the mating south pole portions 714 A alternately arranged in the Y-direction.
- the mating south pole portion 714 A is located forward of the mating north pole portion 712 A in each of the magnets 710 A.
- the face portion 212 and the mating face portion 512 face each other in the Z-direction not only when the connector 20 A is located at the first position (the position shown in FIG. 12 ) but also when the connector 20 A is located at the second position (the position shown in FIG. 13 ).
- the two magnets 410 A positionally correspond to the two magnets 710 A, respectively.
- the north pole portion 412 A and the corresponding mating south pole portion 714 A overlap each other to some extent in the XY-plane.
- the south pole portion 414 A and the corresponding mating north pole portion 712 A overlap each other to some extent in the XY-plane.
- the magnetic portion 400 A receives an attractive force along the negative Y-direction from the mating magnetic portion 700 A similar to the first embodiment.
- each of the north pole portions 412 A receives the attractive force along the negative Y-direction from the corresponding mating south pole portion 714 A while receiving a repulsive force along the negative Y-direction from the corresponding mating north pole portion 712 A.
- the present invention is not limited thereto.
- the magnetic portion 400 A and the mating magnetic portion 700 A may be arranged so that each of the south pole portions 414 A receives both the attractive force along the negative Y-direction and the repulsive force along the negative Y-direction.
- the magnetic portion 400 A receives a forward force, which urges the connector 20 A to be moved toward the second position, from the mating magnetic portion 700 A similar to the first embodiment.
- the connector 20 A located at the first position can be therefore easily moved forward, or toward the second position.
- the connector 20 A comprises a plurality of pairs (magnetic pairs) each of which consists of the north pole portion 412 A and the south pole portion 414 A.
- the mating connector 50 A comprises a plurality of pairs (mating magnetic pairs) each of which consists of the mating north pole portion 712 A and the mating south pole portion 714 A.
- the magnetic pairs are arranged in the Y-direction so as to correspond to the mating magnetic pairs arranged in the Y-direction, respectively. This arrangement allows the connector 20 A to be moved more accurately along the Y-direction.
- a simple arrangement in which the magnet 410 A and the corresponding magnet 710 A under the mated state overlap each other to some extent, causes the attractive force and the repulsive force each of which urges the connector 20 A to be moved toward the second position.
- a structure in which the two magnets 410 A and the two magnets 710 A are simply arranged, can exert a magnet force to connect the connector 20 A with the mating connector 50 A.
- the north pole portion 412 A is moved to be away from the corresponding mating north pole portion 712 A as a whole.
- the magnetic portion 400 A receives a force, which binds the connector 20 A at the second position, from the mating magnetic portion 700 A.
- a connector pair 10 B is a modification of the connector pair 10 A described above.
- the connector pair 10 B comprises a connector 20 B and a mating connector 50 B.
- the connector 20 B has a structure same as that of the connector 20 A except that the connector 20 B comprises a housing 200 B partially different from the housing 200 .
- the mating connector 50 B also has a structure same as that of the mating connector 50 A except that the mating connector 50 B comprises a mating housing 500 B partially different from the mating housing 500 .
- the housing 200 B has a structure same as that of the housing 200 except that the housing 200 B has two locked portions 230 B and one locked portion 240 B instead of the locked portions 230 and the locked portion 240 .
- the mating housing 500 B has a structure same as that of the mating housing 500 except that the mating housing 500 B has a wall 520 B formed with two lock portions 530 B and one lock portion 540 B instead of the wall 520 formed with the lock portions 530 and the lock portion 540 .
- each of the locked portions 230 B has a stopped portion 232 B and the guided portion 234 .
- the locked portion 240 B has a stopped portion 242 B and the guided portion 244 .
- Each of the stopped portions 232 B and the stopped portion 242 B according to the present embodiment is a slope oblique to the Z-direction.
- each of the lock portions 530 B has a stopping portion 532 B and the guide portion 534 .
- the lock portion 540 B has a stopping portion 542 B and the guide portion 544 .
- Each of the stopping portions 532 B and the stopping portion 542 B according to the present embodiment is a slope oblique to the Z-direction.
- each of the stopped portions 232 B and the stopping portions 532 B extends rearward while sloping upward.
- each of the stopped portion 242 B and the stopping portion 542 B extends rearward while sloping upward.
- the connector 20 B is moved obliquely upward so that a simple operation enables an easy removal of the connector 20 B from the mating connector 50 B.
- a part of the force acts on the connector 20 B as an obliquely upward force to move the connector 20 B rearward.
- the locked portions 230 B, the locked portion 240 B, the lock portions 530 B and the lock portion 540 B can be therefore prevented from being damaged.
- one of the stopped portion 232 B and the corresponding stopping portion 532 B may be a horizontal plane.
- the stop portion the stopped portion 232 B or the stopped portion 242 B
- the corresponding stopping portion the stopping portion 532 B or the stopping portion 542 B
- the thus-formed stopped portion and the stopping portion allow the connector 20 B to be removed from the mating connector 50 B along the oblique direction.
- the second direction, or a movement direction along which the connector is moved from the first position to the second position is the linearly extending Y-direction (front-rear direction). Moreover, the movement of the connector from the first position to the second position is a linear movement along the second direction (Y-direction).
- the present invention is not limited thereto.
- the movement direction (second direction) along which the connector is moved from the first position to the second position may be a circumference direction about a central axis extending in parallel to the Z-direction. In such a case, the movement of the connector from the first position to the second position may be a rotational movement about this central axis.
- a connector pair 10 C according to a third embodiment of the present invention comprises a connector 20 C and a mating connector 50 C.
- a movement of the connector 20 C from an unmated position (the position shown in FIG. 17 ) to a first position (the position shown in FIG. 19 ) along an upper-lower direction (Z-direction: first direction) causes the connector 20 C to be mated with the mating connector 50 C.
- another movement of the connector 20 C from the first position to a second position (the position shown in FIG. 20 ) along a circumference direction (C-direction: second direction) perpendicular to the Z-direction completes a connection between the connector 20 C and the mating connector 50 C.
- the connector 20 C according to the present embodiment comprises a housing 200 C made of insulator, two contacts 300 C each made of conductor and two magnets 410 C.
- the housing 200 C has a holding portion 210 C, two side portions 220 C and two locked portions 230 C.
- the holding portion 210 C has a cylindrical shape which has an axis in parallel to the Z-direction as its central axis.
- the holding portion 210 C has a face portion 212 C.
- the face portion 212 C is a lower part of the holding portion 210 C and therefore includes a lower surface of the holding portion 210 C.
- Each of the side portions 220 C protrudes outward in a radial direction (R-direction) from a circumference surface of the holding portion 210 C.
- the side portions 220 C are located in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of the holding portion 210 C.
- the locked portions 230 C are located at lower ends of the side portions 220 C, respectively, while projecting from the side portions 220 C in the circumference direction, respectively.
- Each of the locked portions 230 C has a stopped portion 232 C and a guided portion 234 C.
- the stopped portion 232 C is a horizontal plane perpendicular to the Z-direction
- the guided portion 234 C is a slope oblique to the Z-direction.
- Each of the contacts 300 C has a contact portion 320 C.
- the holding portion 210 C holds the contacts 300 C arranged in the circumference direction.
- Each of the contacts 300 C is held so as to pierce the holding portion 210 C in the Z-direction.
- each of the magnets 410 C is a cylindrical permanent bar magnet.
- One of the magnets 410 C is held by the holding portion 210 C so as to have its north pole located under its south pole, and a remaining one of the magnets 410 C is held by the holding portion 210 C so as to have its south pole located under its north pole.
- the connector 20 C comprises a magnetic portion 400 C consisting of two magnetic poles, namely, the north pole of one of the magnets 410 C and the south pole of a remaining one of the magnets 410 C.
- the magnetic portion 400 C therefore includes a north pole portion 412 C which is a magnetic north pole and a south pole portion 414 C which is a magnetic south pole.
- the face portion 212 C holds the north pole portion 412 C and the south pole portion 414 C arranged in the circumference direction.
- the north pole portion 412 C and the south pole portion 414 C are arranged in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of the holding portion 210 C.
- the north pole portion 412 C is a part of the magnet 410 C which is separated from the magnet 410 C having the south pole portion 414 C.
- the mating connector 50 C according to the present embodiment comprises a mating housing 500 C made of insulator, the two mating contacts 600 and two mating magnets (magnets) 710 C.
- the mating housing 500 C has a holding portion 510 C and a wall 520 C.
- the holding portion 510 C has a cylindrical shape which has an axis in parallel to the Z-direction as its central axis.
- the wall 520 C projects upward from an upper surface of the holding portion 510 C so that the mating connector 50 C is formed with a receiving portion 52 C.
- the receiving portion 52 C is a space surrounded by the wall 520 C.
- the holding portion 510 C has a mating face portion 512 C.
- the mating face portion 512 C is an upper part of the holding portion 210 C and is located just under the receiving portion 52 C.
- the wall 520 C has an inner face surrounding the receiving portion 52 C and two recesses 524 C. Each of the recesses 524 C is recessed outward in the radial direction.
- the recesses 524 C are located in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of the wall 520 C.
- the recesses 524 C are formed with lock portions 530 C, respectively.
- the lock portions 530 C are located at upper ends of the recesses 524 C, respectively.
- Each of the lock portions 530 C projects in the circumference direction while protruding inward in the radial direction.
- Each of the lock portions 530 C has a stopping portion 532 C and a guide portion 534 C.
- the stopping portion 532 C is a horizontal plane perpendicular to the Z-direction
- the guide portion 534 C is a slope oblique to the Z-direction.
- the holding portion 510 C holds the mating contacts 600 arranged in the circumference direction.
- Each of the mating contacts 600 has a lower end and an upper end (mating contact portion 620 ), wherein the lower end is exposed outward on a lower surface of the holding portion 510 C, and the mating contact portion 620 is exposed outward on an upper surface of the mating face portion 512 C.
- Each of the magnets 710 C is a cylindrical permanent bar magnet.
- One of the magnets 710 C is held by the holding portion 510 C so as to have its north pole located over its south pole, and a remaining one of the magnets 710 C is held by the holding portion 510 C so as to have its south pole located over its north pole.
- the mating connector 50 C comprises a mating magnetic portion 700 C consisting of two magnetic poles, namely, the north pole of one of the magnets 710 C and the south pole of a remaining one of the magnets 710 C.
- the mating magnetic portion 700 C therefore includes a mating north pole portion 712 C which is a magnetic north pole and a mating south pole portion 714 C which is a magnetic south pole.
- the mating face portion 512 C holds the mating north pole portion 712 C and the mating south pole portion 714 C arranged in the circumference direction.
- the mating south pole portion 714 C and the mating north pole portion 712 C are arranged in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of the holding portion 510 C.
- the mating north pole portion 712 C is a part of the magnet 710 C which is separated from the magnet 710 C having the mating south pole portion 714 C.
- the guided portions 234 C are guided by the guide portions 534 C, respectively, so that the connector 20 C is moved from the unmated position (the position shown in FIG. 17 ) to the first position (the position shown in FIG. 19 ).
- the face portion 212 C of the connector 20 C and the mating face portion 512 C of the mating connector 50 C face each other in the Z-direction.
- the face portion 212 C and the mating face portion 512 C are kept to face each other in the Z-direction during the movement of the connector 20 C from the first position to the second position (the position shown in FIG. 20 ).
- each of the north pole portion 412 C, the south pole portion 414 C, the mating north pole portion 712 C and the mating south pole portion 714 C has its predetermined end which is located rotationally forward thereof along the circumference direction, or along a clockwise direction in FIG. 17 .
- the predetermined end of the north pole portion 412 C is placed rotationally rearward of the predetermined end of the mating south pole portion 714 C in the circumference direction.
- the predetermined end of the south pole portion 414 C is placed rotationally rearward of the predetermined end of the mating north pole portion 712 C in the circumference direction.
- the magnetic portion 400 C receives an attractive force along the circumference direction from the mating magnetic portion 700 C.
- the magnetic portion 400 C receives, from the mating magnetic portion 700 C, a force which is along the circumference direction and which therefore urges the connector 20 C to be moved toward the second position.
- a structure in which the magnets 410 C and the magnets 710 C are simply arranged, can exert a magnet force to connect the connector 20 C with the mating connector 50 C.
- each of the north pole portion 412 C and the south pole portion 414 C of the magnetic portion 400 C is moved rotationally forward along the circumference direction.
- an overlapped region between the north pole portion 412 C and the mating south pole portion 714 C in the perpendicular plane gradually increases in its size
- another overlapped region between the south pole portion 414 C and the mating north pole portion 712 C in the perpendicular plane gradually increases in its size.
- the predetermined end of the north pole portion 412 C approaches the predetermined end of the mating south pole portion 714 C
- the predetermined end of the south pole portion 414 C approaches the predetermined end of the mating north pole portion 712 C.
- the magnetic portion 400 C receives a force, which binds the connector 20 C at the second position, from the mating magnetic portion 700 C.
- the connector pair 10 C comprises two stopping pairs each of which includes the stopped portion 232 C and the stopping portion 532 C. Moreover, the stopping pairs are apart from each other in the circumference direction. The thus-arranged plurality of the stopping pairs securely lock the connected state between the connector 20 C and the mating connector 50 C.
- a connector pair 10 D according to a forth embodiment of the present invention comprises a connector 20 D and a mating connector 50 D.
- a movement of the connector 20 D from an unmated position (the position shown in FIG. 21 ) to a first position (the position shown in FIG. 25 ) along the Z-direction causes the connector 20 D to be mated with the mating connector 50 D, and another movement of the connector 20 D from the first position to a second position (the position shown in FIG. 26 ) along a circumference direction (C-direction: second direction) completes a connection between the connector 20 D and the mating connector 50 D.
- C-direction second direction
- the connector 20 D according to the present embodiment has a structure same as that of the connector 20 C and works similar to the connector 20 C except that the connector 20 D comprises two magnets 410 D different from the magnets 410 C.
- the mating connector 50 D according to the present embodiment has a structure same as that of the mating connector 50 C and works similar to the mating connector 50 C except that the mating connector 50 D comprises two mating magnets (magnets) 710 D different from the magnets 710 C.
- each of the magnets 410 D is a permanent magnet having an arc-like shape.
- Each of the magnets 410 D has a north pole portion 412 D and a south pole portion 414 D.
- the north pole portion 412 D is a part of the magnet 410 D having the corresponding south pole portion 414 D.
- the connector 20 D comprises a magnetic portion 400 D consisting of the two north pole portions 412 D each of which is a magnetic north pole and the two south pole portions 414 D each of which is a magnetic south pole.
- the face portion 212 C holds the north pole portions 412 D and the south pole portions 414 D alternately arranged in the circumference direction.
- the north pole portions 412 D are arranged in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of the holding portion 210 C.
- the south pole portions 414 D are arranged in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of the holding portion 210 C.
- each of the magnets 710 D is a magnet same as the magnet 410 D.
- Each of the magnets 710 D has a mating north pole portion 712 D and a mating south pole portion 714 D.
- the mating north pole portion 712 D is a part of the magnet 710 D having the corresponding mating south pole portion 714 D.
- the mating connector 50 D comprises a mating magnetic portion 700 D consisting of the two mating north pole portions 712 D each of which is a magnetic north pole and the two mating south pole portions 714 D each of which is a magnetic south pole.
- the mating face portion 512 C holds the mating north pole portions 712 D and the mating south pole portions 714 D alternately arranged in the circumference direction.
- the mating north pole portions 712 D are arranged in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of the holding portion 510 C.
- the mating south pole portions 714 D are arranged in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of the holding portion 510 C.
- each of the south pole portions 414 D receives an attractive force along the positive C-direction (clockwise direction in FIG. 24 ) from the corresponding mating north pole portion 712 D.
- each of the north pole portions 412 D receives an attractive force along the positive C-direction from the corresponding mating south pole portion 714 D while receiving a repulsive force along the positive C-direction from the corresponding mating north pole portion 712 D.
- the connector pair 10 D is provided with a plurality of pairs (magnetic pairs) each of which consists of the north pole portion 412 D and the south pole portion 414 D, and a plurality of pairs (mating magnetic pairs) each of which consists of the mating north pole portion 712 D and the mating south pole portion 714 D.
- the magnetic pairs are arranged in the circumference direction so as to correspond to the respective mating magnetic pairs arranged in the circumference direction. This arrangement allows the connector 20 D to be moved more accurately along the circumference direction.
- a structure, in which the two magnets 410 D and the two magnets 710 D are simply arranged can exert a magnet force to connect the connector 20 D with the mating connector 50 D.
- each of the north pole portions 412 D, the south pole portions 414 D, the mating north pole portions 712 D and the mating south pole portions 714 D has its predetermined end which is located rotationally forward thereof along the positive C-direction, or along a clockwise direction in FIG. 24 .
- FIGS. 24 to 26 when the connector 20 D is moved from the first position to the second position, each of the north pole portions 412 D and the south pole portions 414 D of the magnetic portion 400 D is moved forward (clockwise in FIG. 24 ) along the circumference direction (C-direction).
- an overlapped region between the north pole portion 412 D and the corresponding mating south pole portion 714 D in the perpendicular plane gradually increases in its size
- another overlapped region between the south pole portion 414 D and the corresponding mating north pole portion 712 D in the perpendicular plane gradually increases in its size.
- the predetermined end of the north pole portion 412 D approaches the predetermined end of the corresponding mating south pole portion 714 D
- the predetermined end of the south pole portion 414 D approaches the predetermined end of the corresponding mating north pole portion 712 D.
- the north pole portion 412 D is moved to be away from the corresponding mating north pole portion 712 D as a whole.
- the magnetic portion 400 D receives a force, which binds the connector 20 D at the second position, from the mating magnetic portion 700 D.
- the present invention can be further variously applicable in addition to the aforementioned various embodiments and modifications.
- the number of the magnets and/or the number of the mating magnets may be equal to or more than three.
- the magnet and the mating magnet do not need to be exposed outward, provided that a sufficient magnetic force can be applied to each other.
- each of the magnet and the mating magnet may be wholly buried within its holding portion.
- the magnet and the mating magnet in each of the aforementioned embodiments are fixed to the connector and the mating connector, respectively, so as not to be moved relative to the connector and the mating connector, respectively, each of the magnet and the mating magnet may be supported by its holding portion to be movable in the Z-direction.
- each of the lower end of the face portion and the upper end of the mating face portion does not need to be a plane, provided that the movement of the connector is allowed.
- the contact portion of the contact but the contact portion of the mating contact may be supported to be movable in the Z-direction by a spring portion.
Landscapes
- Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)
Abstract
A connector pair includes a connector and a mating connector. A movement of the connector to a first position along a first direction and a subsequent movement of the connector from the first position to a second position along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction completes a connection between the connector and the mating connector. The connector includes a magnetic portion, and the mating connector comprises a mating magnetic portion. When the connector is located at the first position, the magnetic portion receives a force, which urges the connector to be moved toward the second position, from the mating magnetic portion. When the connector is located at the second position, the magnetic portion receives a force, which binds the connector at the second position, from the mating magnetic portion.
Description
- This application is a continuation of and Applicant claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §§120 of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/873,534 filed on Oct. 2, 2015, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 from Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-256345 filed on Dec. 18, 2014, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference. A certified copy of priority Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-256345 is contained in parent U.S. application Ser. No. 14/873,534.
- This invention relates to a connector pair comprising a connector and a mating connector connectable with each other by using a magnetic force.
- For example, this type of connector and mating connector is disclosed in JP-B 4004953 (Patent Document 1), the content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- Referring to
FIGS. 27 and 28 ,Patent Document 1 discloses the connector (current tap housing) 900 connectable with the mating connector (current supply housing) 950. Referring toFIG. 27 , thecurrent tap housing 900 comprisesflat contacts 902,magnets 904 and a pin-like projection 906. Referring toFIGS. 28 and 29 , thecurrent supply housing 950 comprisesflat contacts 952,current supply terminals 954, apermanent magnet 956, amagnetic carriage 960 movable in an upper-lower direction inFIG. 29 and arotating device 970. Themagnetic carriage 960 is provided withmagnets 962 having magnetic poles different from those of the magnets 904 (seeFIG. 27 ) andcurrent contact points 964 connected to thecurrent supply terminals 954, respectively. Therotating device 970 is provided with acutout 974 extending from an entry/exit region 972. - Referring to
FIG. 29 , a magnetic force (Fd) causes themagnets 962 to be constantly attracted toward thepermanent magnet 956. As a result, themagnetic carriage 960 is located at a lower part of thecurrent supply housing 950 unless another magnetic force larger than the magnetic force (Fd) causes themagnets 962 to be attracted upward. Referring toFIGS. 27 to 29 , when the pin-like projection 906 of thecurrent tap housing 900 is inserted into the entry/exit region 972 of thecurrent supply housing 950, theflat contacts 902 are connected to theflat contacts 952, respectively. At that time, themagnets 904 overlap themagnets 962 to some extent and therefore receive a turning force from themagnets 962, wherein the turning force causes thecurrent tap housing 900 to be turned. When the pin-like projection 906 of the thus-turnedcurrent tap housing 900 is moved through thecutout 974 and arrives at acurrent contact region 974C, themagnets 904 further overlap themagnets 962 so that a magnetic force larger than the magnetic force (Fd) causes themagnets 962 to be attracted toward themagnets 904, and themagnetic carriage 960 is moved upward. Theflat contacts 902 are therefore connected with thecurrent supply terminals 954, respectively, via theflat contacts 952 and thecurrent contact points 964. - In
Patent Document 1, thecurrent tap housing 900 includes the fourmagnets 904, and themagnetic carriage 960 includes the fourmagnets 962 corresponding to themagnets 904, respectively. Thesemagnets 904 andmagnets 962 are arranged in a skilled manner so as to apply the turning force to thecurrent tap housing 900 as well as to move themagnetic carriage 960 upward at an appropriate timing. In other words, a structure including a precise arrangement of many magnets enables thecurrent tap housing 900 to be connected with thecurrent supply housing 950. - It is an object of the present invention to provide a new structure in order to connect a connector with a mating connector by using a magnetic force. More specifically, the object of the present invention is to provide a connector pair comprising a connector and a mating connector connectable with each other by using a magnetic force, wherein the connector pair has a structure including a simple arrangement of a small number of magnets.
- One aspect of the present invention provides a connector pair comprising a connector and a mating connector. A movement of the connector to a first position along a first direction causes the connector to be mated with the mating connector. Another movement of the connector from the first position to a second position along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction completes a connection between the connector and the mating connector. The connector comprises a face portion and a magnetic portion. The face portion holds the magnetic portion which includes a north pole portion and a south pole portion arranged in the second direction. The mating connector comprises a mating face portion and a mating magnetic portion. The mating face portion holds the mating magnetic portion which includes a mating north pole portion and a mating south pole portion arranged in the second direction. The face portion and the mating face portion face each other in the first direction not only when the connector is located at the first position but also when the connector is located at the second position. When the connector is located at the first position, the magnetic portion receives a force, which urges the connector to be moved toward the second position, from the mating magnetic portion. When the connector is located at the second position, the magnetic portion receives a force, which binds the connector at the second position, from the mating magnetic portion.
- According to the present invention, the north pole portion and the south pole portion of the connector are arranged in the second direction, and the mating north pole portion and the mating south pole portion of the mating connector are also arranged in the second direction. Such arrangement of the north pole portion and the south pole portion can be easily made, for example, with use of a single permanent bar magnet. Similarly, such arrangement of the mating north pole portion and the mating south pole can be easily made with use of another single permanent bar magnet. The simple structure of the thus-arranged small number of magnets exerts a magnet force to connect the connector with the mating connector.
- An appreciation of the objectives of the present invention and a more complete understanding of its structure may be had by studying the following description of the preferred embodiment and by referring to the accompanying drawings.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a connector pair according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein a connector and a mating connector of the connector pair are in an unmated state. -
FIG. 2 is another perspective view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a top view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 3 , taken along line IV-IV. -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 1 , wherein the connector is located at a first position. -
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 5 , wherein the illustrated cross-section corresponds to the cross-section ofFIG. 4 . -
FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 1 , wherein the connector is located at a second position. -
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 7 , wherein the illustrated cross-section corresponds to the cross-section ofFIG. 4 , and a vicinity of a locked portion of the connector (the part encircled by dashed line) is enlarged to be illustrated. -
FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing a connector pair according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein a connector and a mating connector thereof are in an unmated state. -
FIG. 10 is another perspective view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 9 . -
FIG. 11 is a top view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 9 , wherein the connector is located at a first position. -
FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 11 , taken along line XII-XII. -
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 12 , wherein the connector is located at a second position. -
FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a connector pair according to a modification of the connector pair ofFIG. 9 , wherein a connector and a mating connector thereof are in an unmated state. -
FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 14 , wherein the illustrated cross-section corresponds to the cross-section ofFIG. 12 , and the connector is located at a first position. -
FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 15 , wherein the connector is located at a second position, and a vicinity of a locked portion of the connector (the part encircled by dashed line) is enlarged to be illustrated. -
FIG. 17 is a perspective view showing a connector pair according to a third embodiment of the present invention, wherein a connector and a mating connector thereof are in an unmated state. -
FIG. 18 is another perspective view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 17 . -
FIG. 19 is a perspective view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 17 , wherein the connector is located at a first position. -
FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 17 , wherein the connector is located at a second position. -
FIG. 21 is a perspective view showing a connector pair according to a forth embodiment of the present invention, wherein a connector and a mating connector thereof are in an unmated state. -
FIG. 22 is another perspective view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 21 . -
FIG. 23 is a top view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 21 , wherein the connector is located at a first position. -
FIG. 24 is a plan view showing a mating face portion of the mating connector ofFIG. 23 from above, wherein a magnetic portion of the connector is illustrated by chain dotted line. -
FIG. 25 is a side view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 23 , wherein the mating connector is not illustrated except its outline illustrated by dashed line. -
FIG. 26 is a side view showing the connector pair ofFIG. 25 , wherein the connector is located at a second position. -
FIG. 27 is a bottom view showing acurrent tap housing 900 ofPatent Document 1. -
FIG. 28 is a top view showing acurrent supply housing 950 ofPatent Document 1. -
FIG. 29 is a cross-sectional view showing thecurrent supply housing 950 ofPatent Document 1. - While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description thereto are not intended to limit the invention to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
- As shown in
FIG. 1 , aconnector pair 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention comprises aconnector 20 and amating connector 50. Referring toFIGS. 1, 5 and 7 , theconnector 20 is mateable and connectable with themating connector 50. In detail, prior to the mating of theconnector 20 with themating connector 50, theconnector 20 is placed at an unmated position (the position shown inFIG. 1 ) which is located just above, or toward the positive Z-side of, themating connector 50 in an upper-lower direction (Z-direction: first direction). Then, a downward movement, or a movement in the negative Z-direction, of theconnector 20 from the unmated position to a first position (the position shown inFIG. 5 ) along the Z-direction causes theconnector 20 to be mated with themating connector 50. Subsequently, a forward movement, or a movement in the negative Y-direction, of theconnector 20 from the first position to a second position (the position shown inFIG. 7 ) along a front-rear direction (Y-direction: second direction) completes a connection between theconnector 20 and themating connector 50. - Referring to
FIGS. 2 and 4 , theconnector 20 according to the present embodiment comprises ahousing 200 made of insulator, twocontacts 300 each made of conductor and asingle magnet 410. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 to 4 , thehousing 200 has a holdingportion 210, twoside portions 220, two lockedportions 230 and one lockedportion 240. The holdingportion 210 has a cuboid shape which is long in the Y-direction. Theside portions 220 are located at a rear end, or the positive Y-side end, of the holdingportion 210 while protruding outward in a lateral direction (X-direction) from opposite sides of the holdingportion 210 in the X-direction, respectively. The lockedportions 230 are located at lower ends, or the negative Z-side ends, of theside portions 220, respectively, while projecting forward from theside portions 220. The lockedportion 240 is located at a lower end of a front surface, or the negative Y-side surface, of the holdingportion 210, while projecting forward from the holdingportion 210. - Referring to
FIGS. 2 and 4 , the holdingportion 210 has aface portion 212. In other words, theconnector 20 comprises theface portion 212. Theface portion 212 according to the present embodiment is a lower part, or the negative Z-side part, of the holdingportion 210 and therefore includes a lower surface, or the negative Z-side surface, of the holdingportion 210. - As shown in
FIGS. 1 to 4 , each of the lockedportions 230 has a stoppedportion 232 and a guidedportion 234. The stoppedportion 232 is an upper surface, or the positive Z-side surface, of the lockedportion 230, and the guidedportion 234 is a lower surface of the lockedportion 230. In the present embodiment, the stoppedportion 232 is a horizontal plane perpendicular to the Z-direction, and the guidedportion 234 is a slope oblique to the Z-direction. - The locked
portion 240 has a stoppedportion 242 and a guidedportion 244 similar to the lockedportion 230. The stoppedportion 242 is an upper surface of the lockedportion 240, and the guidedportion 244 is a lower surface of the lockedportion 240. The stoppedportion 242 is a horizontal plane perpendicular to the Z-direction, and the guidedportion 244 is a slope oblique to the Z-direction. - As described above, the
connector 20 according to the present embodiment comprises the three stopped portions (the two stoppedportions 232 and the one stopped portion 242) and the three guided portions (the two guidedportions 234 and the one guided portion 244). The stoppedportions 232 are located in the vicinity of a rear end of theconnector 20, and the stoppedportion 242 is located in the vicinity of a front end of theconnector 20. - Referring to
FIG. 4 , each of thecontacts 300 has aspring portion 310 and acontact portion 320. Thecontact portion 320 is resiliently supported by thespring portion 310 to be movable in the Z-direction. The holdingportion 210 holds thecontacts 300 arranged in the Y-direction. Each of thecontacts 300 has an upper end, or the positive Z-side end, and a lower end (i.e. contact portion 320), wherein the upper end projects upward, or in the positive Z-direction, beyond an upper surface of the holdingportion 210, and thecontact portion 320 projects downward beyond a lower surface of theface portion 212. For example, when theconnector 20 is mounted on a circuit board (not shown), the upper end of thecontact 300 is brought into contact with a conductive pattern (not shown) of the circuit board. - Referring to
FIGS. 2 and 4 , themagnet 410 according to the present embodiment is a bar magnet and is held by the holdingportion 210 so that its north pole and its south pole are arranged in the Y-direction. In other words, theconnector 20 comprises amagnetic portion 400 consisting of thesingle magnet 410. Themagnetic portion 400 includes anorth pole portion 412 which is a magnetic north pole and asouth pole portion 414 which is a magnetic south pole. In the present embodiment, thenorth pole portion 412 is a part of themagnet 410 having thesouth pole portion 414. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , theface portion 212 holds thenorth pole portion 412 and thesouth pole portion 414 arranged in the Y-direction. In the present embodiment, thenorth pole portion 412 is located forward of thesouth pole portion 414. Each of thenorth pole portion 412 and thesouth pole portion 414 has an upper surface buried within the holdingportion 210 while having a lower surface exposed outward on the lower surface of theface portion 212. - Referring to
FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 , themating connector 50 according to the present embodiment comprises amating housing 500 made of insulator, twomating contacts 600 each made of conductor and a single mating magnet (magnet) 710. - As shown in
FIG. 1 , themating housing 500 has a holdingportion 510 and awall 520. The holdingportion 510 has a cuboid shape which is long in the Y-direction. Thewall 520 projects upward from an upper surface of the holdingportion 510 so that themating connector 50 is formed with a receivingportion 52. The receivingportion 52 is a space surrounded on four sides by thewall 520. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 4 , the holdingportion 510 has amating face portion 512. In other words, themating connector 50 comprises themating face portion 512. Themating face portion 512 according to the present embodiment is an upper part, or the positive Z-side part, of the holdingportion 210 and is located just under the receivingportion 52. Referring toFIGS. 1 and 3 , thewall 520 has an inner face surrounding the receivingportion 52, tworecesses 524 and onerecess 526. Therecesses 524 are located at a rear end of the inner face of thewall 520 while being recessed outward in the X-direction. Therecess 526 is located at a lower part of a front end of the inner face of thewall 520 while being recessed in the negative Y-direction. - As shown in
FIGS. 1, 3 and 4 , the inner face of thewall 520 is formed with twolock portions 530 and onelock portion 540. Each of thelock portions 530 and thelock portion 540 is located at an upper end of thewall 520. Thelock portions 530 are formed so as to correspond to therecesses 524, respectively. Thelock portions 530 project rearward, or along the positive Y-direction, while protruding inward in the X-direction. Thelock portion 540 is located above therecess 526 while projecting rearward. - As shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4 , each of thelock portions 530 has a stoppingportion 532 and aguide portion 534. The stoppingportion 532 is a lower surface of thelock portion 530, and theguide portion 534 is an upper surface of thelock portion 530. In the present embodiment, the stoppingportion 532 is a horizontal plane perpendicular to the Z-direction, and theguide portion 534 is a slope oblique to the Z-direction. - The
lock portion 540 has a stoppingportion 542 and aguide portion 544 similar to thelock portion 530. The stoppingportion 542 is a lower surface of thelock portion 540, and theguide portion 544 is an upper surface of thelock portion 540. The stoppingportion 542 is a horizontal plane perpendicular to the Z-direction, and theguide portion 544 is a slope oblique to the Z-direction. - As described above, the
mating connector 50 according to the present embodiment comprises the three stopping portion (the two stoppingportions 532 and the one stopping portion 542) and the three guide portions (the twoguide portions 534 and the one guide portion 544). The stoppingportions 532 are located in the vicinity of a rear end of themating connector 50, and the stoppingportion 542 is located in the vicinity of a front end of themating connector 50. - Referring to
FIG. 4 , each of themating contacts 600 has amating contact portion 620. The holdingportion 510 holds themating contacts 600 arranged in the Y-direction. Each of themating contacts 600 has a lower end and an upper end (i.e. mating contact portion 620), wherein the lower end is exposed outward on a lower surface of the holdingportion 510, and themating contact portion 620 is exposed outward on an upper surface of themating face portion 512. For example, when themating connector 50 is mounted on a circuit board (not shown), the lower end of themating contact 600 is electrically and mechanically connected to a conductive pattern (not shown) of the circuit board via soldering, or the like. - Referring to
FIGS. 1, 2 and 4 , themagnet 710 according to the present embodiment is a bar magnet and is held by the holdingportion 510 so that its south pole and its north pole are arranged in the Y-direction. In other words, themating connector 50 comprises a matingmagnetic portion 700 consisting of thesingle magnet 710. The matingmagnetic portion 700 includes a matingnorth pole portion 712 which is a magnetic north pole and a matingsouth pole portion 714 which is a magnetic south pole. In the present embodiment, the matingnorth pole portion 712 is a part of themagnet 710 having the matingsouth pole portion 714. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , themating face portion 512 holds the matingnorth pole portion 712 and the matingsouth pole portion 714 arranged in the Y-direction. In the present embodiment, the matingsouth pole portion 714 is located forward of the matingnorth pole portion 712. Each of the matingnorth pole portion 712 and the matingsouth pole portion 714 has a lower surface exposed outward on the lower surface of the holdingportion 510 while having an upper surface exposed outward on the upper surface of themating face portion 512. - Referring to
FIGS. 1 and 4 to 6 , when theconnector 20 is located at the unmated position (the position shown inFIGS. 1 and 4 ), theconnector 20 is in an unmated state where theconnector 20 is not mated with themating connector 50. If theconnector 20 in the unmated state is moved downward, theconnector 20 arrives at the first position (the position shown inFIGS. 5 and 6 ) to change its state into a mated state where theconnector 20 is mated with themating connector 50. - When the
connector 20 is moved from the unmated position to the first position, theside portions 220 of theconnector 20 are inserted into therecesses 524 of themating connector 50, respectively, so that theconnector 20 is positioned relative to themating connector 50. In the meantime, the guidedportions 234 and the guidedportion 244 are guided by theguide portions 534 and theguide portion 544, respectively, so that theconnector 20 is smoothly received into the receivingportion 52. - Referring to
FIGS. 5 to 8 , when theconnector 20 is located at the first position (the position shown inFIGS. 5 and 6 ), theface portion 212 is in contact with themating face portion 512, and thecontact portions 320 of thecontacts 300 are pressed against themating contact portions 620 of themating contacts 600, respectively. When theconnector 20 located at the first position is moved to the second position (the position shown inFIGS. 7 and 8 ), theconnector 20 changes its state into a connected state where the connection between theconnector 20 and themating connector 50 is completed. During this movement, theface portion 212 is kept to be in contact with themating face portion 512, and thecontact portions 320 slide on themating contact portions 620, respectively. According to the present embodiment, contact reliability between thecontact portion 320 and themating contact portion 620 can be therefore improved. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, theface portion 212 may be apart from themating face portion 512 in the Z-direction to some extent, provided that theface portion 212 and themating face portion 512 face each other in the Z-direction not only when theconnector 20 is located at the first position but also when theconnector 20 is located at the second position. - As can be seen from
FIGS. 2 and 6 , when thenorth pole portion 412 and the matingsouth pole portion 714 make their projection images into the XY-plane along the Z-direction under the mated state where theconnector 20 is located at the first position (the position shown inFIG. 6 ), the projection image of thenorth pole portion 412 merely overlaps, but is not equal to, the projection image of the matingsouth pole portion 714. In other words, when theconnector 20 is located at the first position, thenorth pole portion 412 and the matingsouth pole portion 714 overlap each other to some extent in a perpendicular plane (XY-plane) perpendicular to the Z-direction. At that time, thesouth pole portion 414 and the matingnorth pole portion 712 overlap each other to some extent in the XY-plane. In detail, each of thenorth pole portion 412, thesouth pole portion 414, the matingnorth pole portion 712 and the matingsouth pole portion 714 has the negative Y-side end (predetermined end) which is located forward thereof. When theconnector 20 is located at the first position, the negative Y-side end of thenorth pole portion 412 is placed rearward of the negative Y-side end of the matingsouth pole portion 714 in the Y-direction, and the negative Y-side end of thesouth pole portion 414 is placed rearward of the negative Y-side end of the matingnorth pole portion 712 in the Y-direction. As a result, thenorth pole portion 412 and thesouth pole portion 414 receive attractive forces along the negative Y-direction from the matingsouth pole portion 714 and the matingnorth pole portion 712, respectively. - As can be seen from the above explanation, when the
connector 20 is located at the first position, themagnetic portion 400 receives a forward force, which urges theconnector 20 to be moved toward the second position, from the matingmagnetic portion 700. Theconnector 20 located at the first position can be therefore easily moved forward, or toward the second position, with no external force or with only slight external force applied thereto. - Moreover, according to the present embodiment, when the
connector 20 is located at the first position, thenorth pole portion 412 not only overlaps a rear part, or the positive Y-side part, of the matingsouth pole portion 714 to some extent but also overlaps a front part, or the negative Y-side part, of the matingnorth pole portion 712 to some extent. In other words, the negative Y-side end of thenorth pole portion 412 is placed rearward of the negative Y-side end of the matingsouth pole portion 714 in the Y-direction, and the positive Y-side end of thenorth pole portion 412 is placed rearward of the negative Y-side end of the matingnorth pole portion 712 in the Y-direction. The thus-locatednorth pole portion 412 receives the attractive force along the negative Y-direction from the matingsouth pole portion 714 while receiving a repulsive force along the negative Y-direction from the matingnorth pole portion 712. According to the present embodiment, theconnector 20 located at the first position can be more easily moved forward. - Referring to
FIG. 6 , such attractive force and such repulsive force along the negative Y-direction can be also obtained from another structure different from that of the present embodiment. For example, thesouth pole portion 414 may be located forward of thenorth pole portion 412. In this structure, the matingnorth pole portion 712 needs to be located forward of the matingsouth pole portion 714. In each of the structures described above, when theconnector 20 is located at the first position, one of thenorth pole portion 412 and thesouth pole portion 414 receives an attractive force from one of the matingnorth pole portion 712 and the matingsouth pole portion 714 and receives a repulsive force from a remaining one of the matingnorth pole portion 712 and the matingsouth pole portion 714, wherein each of the attractive force and the repulsive force urges theconnector 20 to be moved toward the second position. - According to the present embodiment, each of the
magnetic portion 400 and the matingmagnetic portion 700 is a single permanent bar magnet (themagnet 410 or the magnet 710). Thenorth pole portion 412 and thesouth pole portion 414 are therefore continuously connected to each other in the Y-direction, and the matingsouth pole portion 714 and the matingnorth pole portion 712 are also continuously connected to each other in the Y-direction. In addition, themagnet 410 has a size same as that of themagnet 710. Accordingly, a simple arrangement, in which themagnet 410 and themagnet 710 under the mated state overlap each other to some extent, causes the attractive force and the repulsive force each of which urges theconnector 20 to be moved toward the second position. According to the present embodiment, a structure, in which thesingle magnet 410 and thesingle magnet 710 are simply arranged, can exert a magnet force to connect theconnector 20 with themating connector 50. - As can be seen from
FIGS. 6 and 8 , when theconnector 20 is moved from the first position to the second position, themagnetic portion 400 is moved linearly forward, or moved toward the negative Y-side end of themating connector 50 away from the positive Y-side end of themating connector 50 along the Y-direction. During this movement, an overlapped region in the XY-plane between thenorth pole portion 412 and the matingsouth pole portion 714 gradually increases in its size, and another overlapped region in the XY-plane between thesouth pole portion 414 and the matingnorth pole portion 712 gradually increases in its size. In detail, as theconnector 20 approaches the second position, the negative Y-side end of thenorth pole portion 412 approaches the negative Y-side end of the matingsouth pole portion 714, and the negative Y-side end of thesouth pole portion 414 approaches the negative Y-side end of the matingnorth pole portion 712. In the meantime, thenorth pole portion 412 is moved to be away from the matingnorth pole portion 712 as a whole. As a result, when theconnector 20 is located at the second position, themagnetic portion 400 receives a force, which binds theconnector 20 at the second position, from the matingmagnetic portion 700. In other words, the magnetic force maintains the connected state between theconnector 20 and themating connector 50. - As shown in
FIG. 8 , when theconnector 20 is located at the second position, the stoppingportions 532 and the stoppingportion 542 face the stoppedportions 232 and the stoppedportion 242 in the Z-direction, respectively. When theconnector 20 is moved upward, the stoppedportions 232 and the stoppedportion 242 are stopped by the stoppingportions 532 and the stoppingportion 542, respectively. This arrangement prevents a removal of theconnector 20 from themating connector 50 only along the Z-direction. In particular, theconnector pair 10 according to the present embodiment comprises a plurality of stopping pairs each of which includes the stopped portion (the stoppedportion 232 or the stopped portion 242) and the stopping portion (the stoppingportion 532 or the stopping portion 542). Moreover, at least two of the stopping pairs are apart from each other in the Y-direction. The thus-arranged plurality of the stopping pairs securely lock the connected state between theconnector 20 and themating connector 50. However, theconnector pair 10 may comprise only one of the stopping pairs. - In the present embodiment, when the
connector 20 is located at the second position, the stoppingportions 532 and the stoppingportion 542 are slightly apart from the stoppedportions 232 and the stoppedportion 242 in the Z-direction, respectively. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, the stoppingportions 532 and the stoppingportion 542 may be in contact with the stoppedportions 232 and the stoppedportion 242 in the Z-direction, respectively. - The present invention can be variously modified in addition to the already explained embodiment and modifications. Hereafter, explanation will be made about the other embodiments of the present invention, in particular, mainly about their differences from the aforementioned embodiment.
- Referring to
FIGS. 9 to 11 , aconnector pair 10A according to a second embodiment of the present invention comprises aconnector 20A and amating connector 50A. Referring toFIGS. 9, 12 and 13 , a movement of theconnector 20A from an unmated position (the position shown inFIG. 9 ) to a first position (the position shown inFIG. 12 ) along the Z-direction causes theconnector 20A to be mated with themating connector 50A, and another movement of theconnector 20A from the first position to a second position (the position shown inFIG. 13 ) along the Y-direction completes a connection between theconnector 20A and themating connector 50A. - Referring to
FIGS. 9 and 10 as well asFIGS. 1 and 2 , theconnector 20A according to the present embodiment has a structure same as that of theconnector 20 and works similar to theconnector 20 except that theconnector 20A comprises twomagnets 410A different from themagnet 410. Themating connector 50A according to the present embodiment also has a structure same as that of themating connector 50 and works similar to themating connector 50 except that themating connector 50A comprises two mating magnets (magnets) 710A different from themagnet 710. - Referring to
FIGS. 9 and 10 as well asFIG. 2 , each of themagnets 410A according to the present embodiment is a bar magnet which is same as themagnet 410 except that themagnets 410A has a size in the Y-direction smaller than that of themagnet 410. Each of themagnets 410A is arranged similar to themagnet 410. In detail, each of themagnets 410A has anorth pole portion 412A and asouth pole portion 414A arranged in the Y-direction. Each of thenorth pole portions 412A is a part of themagnet 410A having the correspondingsouth pole portion 414A. Theconnector 20A according to the present embodiment comprises amagnetic portion 400A consisting of the twonorth pole portions 412A each of which is a magnetic north pole and the twosouth pole portions 414A each of which is a magnetic south pole. Theface portion 212 holds thenorth pole portions 412A and thesouth pole portions 414A alternately arranged in the Y-direction. In detail, in the present embodiment, thenorth pole portion 412A is located forward of thesouth pole portion 414A in each of themagnets 410A. - Each of the
magnets 710A according to the present embodiment is a bar magnet same as themagnet 410A. Each of themagnets 710A has a matingnorth pole portion 712A and a matingsouth pole portion 714A arranged in the Y-direction. Each of the matingnorth pole portions 712A is a part of themagnet 710A having the corresponding matingsouth pole portion 714A. Themating connector 50A according to the present embodiment comprises a matingmagnetic portion 700A consisting of the two matingnorth pole portions 712A each of which is a magnetic north pole and the two matingsouth pole portions 714A each of which is a magnetic south pole. Themating face portion 512 holds the matingnorth pole portions 712A and the matingsouth pole portions 714A alternately arranged in the Y-direction. In detail, in the present embodiment, the matingsouth pole portion 714A is located forward of the matingnorth pole portion 712A in each of themagnets 710A. - As can be seen from
FIGS. 12 and 13 , theface portion 212 and themating face portion 512 face each other in the Z-direction not only when theconnector 20A is located at the first position (the position shown inFIG. 12 ) but also when theconnector 20A is located at the second position (the position shown inFIG. 13 ). The twomagnets 410A positionally correspond to the twomagnets 710A, respectively. When theconnector 20A is located at the first position, thenorth pole portion 412A and the corresponding matingsouth pole portion 714A overlap each other to some extent in the XY-plane. In addition, thesouth pole portion 414A and the corresponding matingnorth pole portion 712A overlap each other to some extent in the XY-plane. As a result, themagnetic portion 400A receives an attractive force along the negative Y-direction from the matingmagnetic portion 700A similar to the first embodiment. - Moreover, similar to the first embodiment, when the
connector 20A is located at the first position, each of thenorth pole portions 412A receives the attractive force along the negative Y-direction from the corresponding matingsouth pole portion 714A while receiving a repulsive force along the negative Y-direction from the corresponding matingnorth pole portion 712A. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, themagnetic portion 400A and the matingmagnetic portion 700A may be arranged so that each of thesouth pole portions 414A receives both the attractive force along the negative Y-direction and the repulsive force along the negative Y-direction. - As can be seen from the above explanation, when the
connector 20A is located at the first position, themagnetic portion 400A receives a forward force, which urges theconnector 20A to be moved toward the second position, from the matingmagnetic portion 700A similar to the first embodiment. Theconnector 20A located at the first position can be therefore easily moved forward, or toward the second position. - The
connector 20A according to the present embodiment comprises a plurality of pairs (magnetic pairs) each of which consists of thenorth pole portion 412A and thesouth pole portion 414A. Moreover, themating connector 50A comprises a plurality of pairs (mating magnetic pairs) each of which consists of the matingnorth pole portion 712A and the matingsouth pole portion 714A. The magnetic pairs are arranged in the Y-direction so as to correspond to the mating magnetic pairs arranged in the Y-direction, respectively. This arrangement allows theconnector 20A to be moved more accurately along the Y-direction. - According to the present embodiment, similar to the first embodiment, a simple arrangement, in which the
magnet 410A and thecorresponding magnet 710A under the mated state overlap each other to some extent, causes the attractive force and the repulsive force each of which urges theconnector 20A to be moved toward the second position. According to the present embodiment, a structure, in which the twomagnets 410A and the twomagnets 710A are simply arranged, can exert a magnet force to connect theconnector 20A with themating connector 50A. - When the
connector 20A is moved from the first position to the second position, an overlapped region in the XY-plane between thenorth pole portion 412A and the corresponding matingsouth pole portion 714A gradually increases in its size, and another overlapped region in the XY-plane between thesouth pole portion 414A and the corresponding matingnorth pole portion 712A gradually increases in its size. In detail, as theconnector 20A approaches the second position, the negative Y-side end of thenorth pole portion 412A approaches the negative Y-side end of the corresponding matingsouth pole portion 714A, and the negative Y-side end of thesouth pole portions 414A approaches the negative Y-side end of the corresponding matingnorth pole portion 712A. In addition, thenorth pole portion 412A is moved to be away from the corresponding matingnorth pole portion 712A as a whole. As a result, when theconnector 20A is located at the second position, themagnetic portion 400A receives a force, which binds theconnector 20A at the second position, from the matingmagnetic portion 700A. - Referring to
FIGS. 14 to 16 as well asFIG. 9 , aconnector pair 10B is a modification of theconnector pair 10A described above. Theconnector pair 10B comprises aconnector 20B and amating connector 50B. Theconnector 20B has a structure same as that of theconnector 20A except that theconnector 20B comprises ahousing 200B partially different from thehousing 200. Themating connector 50B also has a structure same as that of themating connector 50A except that themating connector 50B comprises amating housing 500B partially different from themating housing 500. - In detail, the
housing 200B has a structure same as that of thehousing 200 except that thehousing 200B has two lockedportions 230B and one lockedportion 240B instead of the lockedportions 230 and the lockedportion 240. Themating housing 500B has a structure same as that of themating housing 500 except that themating housing 500B has awall 520B formed with twolock portions 530B and onelock portion 540B instead of thewall 520 formed with thelock portions 530 and thelock portion 540. - Referring to
FIGS. 14 to 16 , each of the lockedportions 230B has a stoppedportion 232B and the guidedportion 234. The lockedportion 240B has a stoppedportion 242B and the guidedportion 244. Each of the stoppedportions 232B and the stoppedportion 242B according to the present embodiment is a slope oblique to the Z-direction. Moreover, each of thelock portions 530B has a stoppingportion 532B and theguide portion 534. Thelock portion 540B has a stoppingportion 542B and theguide portion 544. Each of the stoppingportions 532B and the stoppingportion 542B according to the present embodiment is a slope oblique to the Z-direction. - Referring to
FIG. 16 , when theconnector 20B is located at the second position, each of the stoppedportions 232B and the stoppingportions 532B extends rearward while sloping upward. At that time, each of the stoppedportion 242B and the stoppingportion 542B extends rearward while sloping upward. When the thus-formedconnector 20B is moved rearward in a removal operation of theconnector 20B, theconnector 20B is moved obliquely upward so that a simple operation enables an easy removal of theconnector 20B from themating connector 50B. Moreover, even if theconnector 20B is pulled upward with a strong force, a part of the force acts on theconnector 20B as an obliquely upward force to move theconnector 20B rearward. The lockedportions 230B, the lockedportion 240B, thelock portions 530B and thelock portion 540B can be therefore prevented from being damaged. - The present modification can be further modified. For example, one of the stopped
portion 232B and the corresponding stoppingportion 532B may be a horizontal plane. In other words, it is sufficient that, when theconnector 20B is located at the second position, at least one of the stopped portion (the stoppedportion 232B or the stoppedportion 242B) and the corresponding stopping portion (the stoppingportion 532B or the stoppingportion 542B) extends along an oblique direction oblique to both the Z-direction and the Y-direction. The thus-formed stopped portion and the stopping portion allow theconnector 20B to be removed from themating connector 50B along the oblique direction. - In the embodiments described above, the second direction, or a movement direction along which the connector is moved from the first position to the second position, is the linearly extending Y-direction (front-rear direction). Moreover, the movement of the connector from the first position to the second position is a linear movement along the second direction (Y-direction). However, the present invention is not limited thereto. For example, as explained in the following embodiments, the movement direction (second direction) along which the connector is moved from the first position to the second position may be a circumference direction about a central axis extending in parallel to the Z-direction. In such a case, the movement of the connector from the first position to the second position may be a rotational movement about this central axis.
- As shown in
FIGS. 17 and 18 , aconnector pair 10C according to a third embodiment of the present invention comprises aconnector 20C and amating connector 50C. Referring toFIGS. 17, 19 and 20 , a movement of theconnector 20C from an unmated position (the position shown inFIG. 17 ) to a first position (the position shown inFIG. 19 ) along an upper-lower direction (Z-direction: first direction) causes theconnector 20C to be mated with themating connector 50C. Then, another movement of theconnector 20C from the first position to a second position (the position shown inFIG. 20 ) along a circumference direction (C-direction: second direction) perpendicular to the Z-direction completes a connection between theconnector 20C and themating connector 50C. - The
connector 20C according to the present embodiment comprises ahousing 200C made of insulator, twocontacts 300C each made of conductor and twomagnets 410C. - As shown in
FIGS. 17 and 18 , thehousing 200C has a holdingportion 210C, twoside portions 220C and two lockedportions 230C. The holdingportion 210C has a cylindrical shape which has an axis in parallel to the Z-direction as its central axis. The holdingportion 210C has aface portion 212C. Theface portion 212C is a lower part of the holdingportion 210C and therefore includes a lower surface of the holdingportion 210C. Each of theside portions 220C protrudes outward in a radial direction (R-direction) from a circumference surface of the holdingportion 210C. Theside portions 220C are located in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of the holdingportion 210C. The lockedportions 230C are located at lower ends of theside portions 220C, respectively, while projecting from theside portions 220C in the circumference direction, respectively. Each of the lockedportions 230C has a stoppedportion 232C and a guidedportion 234C. In the present embodiment, the stoppedportion 232C is a horizontal plane perpendicular to the Z-direction, and the guidedportion 234C is a slope oblique to the Z-direction. - Each of the
contacts 300C has acontact portion 320C. The holdingportion 210C holds thecontacts 300C arranged in the circumference direction. Each of thecontacts 300C is held so as to pierce the holdingportion 210C in the Z-direction. - Referring to
FIG. 18 , each of themagnets 410C according to the present embodiment is a cylindrical permanent bar magnet. One of themagnets 410C is held by the holdingportion 210C so as to have its north pole located under its south pole, and a remaining one of themagnets 410C is held by the holdingportion 210C so as to have its south pole located under its north pole. Accordingly, theconnector 20C comprises amagnetic portion 400C consisting of two magnetic poles, namely, the north pole of one of themagnets 410C and the south pole of a remaining one of themagnets 410C. Themagnetic portion 400C therefore includes anorth pole portion 412C which is a magnetic north pole and asouth pole portion 414C which is a magnetic south pole. Theface portion 212C holds thenorth pole portion 412C and thesouth pole portion 414C arranged in the circumference direction. In detail, thenorth pole portion 412C and thesouth pole portion 414C are arranged in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of the holdingportion 210C. According to the present embodiment, thenorth pole portion 412C is a part of themagnet 410C which is separated from themagnet 410C having thesouth pole portion 414C. - Referring to
FIGS. 17 and 18 , themating connector 50C according to the present embodiment comprises amating housing 500C made of insulator, the twomating contacts 600 and two mating magnets (magnets) 710C. - The
mating housing 500C has a holdingportion 510C and awall 520C. The holdingportion 510C has a cylindrical shape which has an axis in parallel to the Z-direction as its central axis. Thewall 520C projects upward from an upper surface of the holdingportion 510C so that themating connector 50C is formed with a receivingportion 52C. The receivingportion 52C is a space surrounded by thewall 520C. - Referring to
FIG. 17 , the holdingportion 510C has amating face portion 512C. Themating face portion 512C is an upper part of the holdingportion 210C and is located just under the receivingportion 52C. Thewall 520C has an inner face surrounding the receivingportion 52C and tworecesses 524C. Each of therecesses 524C is recessed outward in the radial direction. Therecesses 524C are located in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of thewall 520C. Therecesses 524C are formed withlock portions 530C, respectively. Thelock portions 530C are located at upper ends of therecesses 524C, respectively. Each of thelock portions 530C projects in the circumference direction while protruding inward in the radial direction. Each of thelock portions 530C has a stoppingportion 532C and aguide portion 534C. In the present embodiment, the stoppingportion 532C is a horizontal plane perpendicular to the Z-direction, and theguide portion 534C is a slope oblique to the Z-direction. - The holding
portion 510C holds themating contacts 600 arranged in the circumference direction. Each of themating contacts 600 has a lower end and an upper end (mating contact portion 620), wherein the lower end is exposed outward on a lower surface of the holdingportion 510C, and themating contact portion 620 is exposed outward on an upper surface of themating face portion 512C. - Each of the
magnets 710C according to the present embodiment is a cylindrical permanent bar magnet. One of themagnets 710C is held by the holdingportion 510C so as to have its north pole located over its south pole, and a remaining one of themagnets 710C is held by the holdingportion 510C so as to have its south pole located over its north pole. Accordingly, themating connector 50C comprises a matingmagnetic portion 700C consisting of two magnetic poles, namely, the north pole of one of themagnets 710C and the south pole of a remaining one of themagnets 710C. The matingmagnetic portion 700C therefore includes a matingnorth pole portion 712C which is a magnetic north pole and a matingsouth pole portion 714C which is a magnetic south pole. Themating face portion 512C holds the matingnorth pole portion 712C and the matingsouth pole portion 714C arranged in the circumference direction. In detail, the matingsouth pole portion 714C and the matingnorth pole portion 712C are arranged in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of the holdingportion 510C. According to the present embodiment, the matingnorth pole portion 712C is a part of themagnet 710C which is separated from themagnet 710C having the matingsouth pole portion 714C. - Referring to
FIGS. 17, 19 and 20 , when theside portions 220C of theconnector 20C are inserted into therecesses 524C of themating connector 50C, respectively, and moved downward, the guidedportions 234C are guided by theguide portions 534C, respectively, so that theconnector 20C is moved from the unmated position (the position shown inFIG. 17 ) to the first position (the position shown inFIG. 19 ). When theconnector 20C is located at the first position, theface portion 212C of theconnector 20C and themating face portion 512C of themating connector 50C face each other in the Z-direction. Theface portion 212C and themating face portion 512C are kept to face each other in the Z-direction during the movement of theconnector 20C from the first position to the second position (the position shown inFIG. 20 ). - When the
connector 20C is located at the first position, thenorth pole portion 412C and the matingsouth pole portion 714C overlap each other to some extent in a horizontal plane (perpendicular plane) perpendicular to the Z-direction. At that time, thesouth pole portion 414C and the matingnorth pole portion 712C overlap each other in the perpendicular plane. In detail, each of thenorth pole portion 412C, thesouth pole portion 414C, the matingnorth pole portion 712C and the matingsouth pole portion 714C has its predetermined end which is located rotationally forward thereof along the circumference direction, or along a clockwise direction inFIG. 17 . The predetermined end of thenorth pole portion 412C is placed rotationally rearward of the predetermined end of the matingsouth pole portion 714C in the circumference direction. Similarly, the predetermined end of thesouth pole portion 414C is placed rotationally rearward of the predetermined end of the matingnorth pole portion 712C in the circumference direction. As a result, themagnetic portion 400C receives an attractive force along the circumference direction from the matingmagnetic portion 700C. In other words, when theconnector 20C is located at the first position, themagnetic portion 400C receives, from the matingmagnetic portion 700C, a force which is along the circumference direction and which therefore urges theconnector 20C to be moved toward the second position. According to the present embodiment, a structure, in which themagnets 410C and themagnets 710C are simply arranged, can exert a magnet force to connect theconnector 20C with themating connector 50C. - When the
connector 20C is moved from the first position to the second position, themagnetic portion 400C is moved clockwise as seen from above. In detail, each of thenorth pole portion 412C and thesouth pole portion 414C of themagnetic portion 400C is moved rotationally forward along the circumference direction. During this movement, an overlapped region between thenorth pole portion 412C and the matingsouth pole portion 714C in the perpendicular plane gradually increases in its size, and another overlapped region between thesouth pole portion 414C and the matingnorth pole portion 712C in the perpendicular plane gradually increases in its size. In detail, as theconnector 20C approaches the second position, the predetermined end of thenorth pole portion 412C approaches the predetermined end of the matingsouth pole portion 714C, and the predetermined end of thesouth pole portion 414C approaches the predetermined end of the matingnorth pole portion 712C. When theconnector 20C is located at the second position, themagnetic portion 400C receives a force, which binds theconnector 20C at the second position, from the matingmagnetic portion 700C. - When the
connector 20C is located at the second position, the stoppingportions 532C face the stoppedportions 232C in the Z-direction, respectively. This arrangement prevents a removal of theconnector 20C from themating connector 50C only along the Z-direction. In particular, theconnector pair 10C according to the present embodiment comprises two stopping pairs each of which includes the stoppedportion 232C and the stoppingportion 532C. Moreover, the stopping pairs are apart from each other in the circumference direction. The thus-arranged plurality of the stopping pairs securely lock the connected state between theconnector 20C and themating connector 50C. - Referring to
FIG. 21 , aconnector pair 10D according to a forth embodiment of the present invention comprises aconnector 20D and amating connector 50D. Referring toFIGS. 21, 25 and 26 , a movement of theconnector 20D from an unmated position (the position shown inFIG. 21 ) to a first position (the position shown inFIG. 25 ) along the Z-direction causes theconnector 20D to be mated with themating connector 50D, and another movement of theconnector 20D from the first position to a second position (the position shown inFIG. 26 ) along a circumference direction (C-direction: second direction) completes a connection between theconnector 20D and themating connector 50D. - Referring to
FIGS. 21 to 23 as well asFIGS. 17 and 18, theconnector 20D according to the present embodiment has a structure same as that of theconnector 20C and works similar to theconnector 20C except that theconnector 20D comprises twomagnets 410D different from themagnets 410C. Themating connector 50D according to the present embodiment has a structure same as that of themating connector 50C and works similar to themating connector 50C except that themating connector 50D comprises two mating magnets (magnets) 710D different from themagnets 710C. - Referring to
FIGS. 22 and 24 , each of themagnets 410D according to the present embodiment is a permanent magnet having an arc-like shape. Each of themagnets 410D has anorth pole portion 412D and asouth pole portion 414D. In the present embodiment, thenorth pole portion 412D is a part of themagnet 410D having the correspondingsouth pole portion 414D. - The
connector 20D according to the present embodiment comprises amagnetic portion 400D consisting of the twonorth pole portions 412D each of which is a magnetic north pole and the twosouth pole portions 414D each of which is a magnetic south pole. Theface portion 212C holds thenorth pole portions 412D and thesouth pole portions 414D alternately arranged in the circumference direction. In detail, thenorth pole portions 412D are arranged in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of the holdingportion 210C. Similarly, thesouth pole portions 414D are arranged in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of the holdingportion 210C. - Referring to
FIGS. 21, 22 and 24 , each of themagnets 710D according to the present embodiment is a magnet same as themagnet 410D. Each of themagnets 710D has a matingnorth pole portion 712D and a matingsouth pole portion 714D. In the present embodiment, the matingnorth pole portion 712D is a part of themagnet 710D having the corresponding matingsouth pole portion 714D. - The
mating connector 50D according to the present embodiment comprises a matingmagnetic portion 700D consisting of the two matingnorth pole portions 712D each of which is a magnetic north pole and the two matingsouth pole portions 714D each of which is a magnetic south pole. Themating face portion 512C holds the matingnorth pole portions 712D and the matingsouth pole portions 714D alternately arranged in the circumference direction. In detail, the matingnorth pole portions 712D are arranged in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of the holdingportion 510C. Similarly, the matingsouth pole portions 714D are arranged in rotational symmetry with each other around the central axis of the holdingportion 510C. - As can be seen from
FIG. 24 , the twomagnets 410D positionally correspond to the twomagnets 710D, respectively. When theconnector 20D is located at the first position, each of thesouth pole portions 414D receives an attractive force along the positive C-direction (clockwise direction inFIG. 24 ) from the corresponding matingnorth pole portion 712D. Moreover, when theconnector 20D is located at the first position, each of thenorth pole portions 412D receives an attractive force along the positive C-direction from the corresponding matingsouth pole portion 714D while receiving a repulsive force along the positive C-direction from the corresponding matingnorth pole portion 712D. - As can be seen from the above explanation, when the
connector 20D is located at the first position, themagnetic portion 400D receives a force, which urges theconnector 20D to be moved toward the second position, from the matingmagnetic portion 700D. According to the present embodiment, theconnector pair 10D is provided with a plurality of pairs (magnetic pairs) each of which consists of thenorth pole portion 412D and thesouth pole portion 414D, and a plurality of pairs (mating magnetic pairs) each of which consists of the matingnorth pole portion 712D and the matingsouth pole portion 714D. The magnetic pairs are arranged in the circumference direction so as to correspond to the respective mating magnetic pairs arranged in the circumference direction. This arrangement allows theconnector 20D to be moved more accurately along the circumference direction. According to the present embodiment, a structure, in which the twomagnets 410D and the twomagnets 710D are simply arranged, can exert a magnet force to connect theconnector 20D with themating connector 50D. - Referring to
FIG. 24 , each of thenorth pole portions 412D, thesouth pole portions 414D, the matingnorth pole portions 712D and the matingsouth pole portions 714D has its predetermined end which is located rotationally forward thereof along the positive C-direction, or along a clockwise direction inFIG. 24 . As can be seen fromFIGS. 24 to 26 , when theconnector 20D is moved from the first position to the second position, each of thenorth pole portions 412D and thesouth pole portions 414D of themagnetic portion 400D is moved forward (clockwise inFIG. 24 ) along the circumference direction (C-direction). During this movement, an overlapped region between thenorth pole portion 412D and the corresponding matingsouth pole portion 714D in the perpendicular plane gradually increases in its size, and another overlapped region between thesouth pole portion 414D and the corresponding matingnorth pole portion 712D in the perpendicular plane gradually increases in its size. In detail, as theconnector 20D approaches the second position, the predetermined end of thenorth pole portion 412D approaches the predetermined end of the corresponding matingsouth pole portion 714D, and the predetermined end of thesouth pole portion 414D approaches the predetermined end of the corresponding matingnorth pole portion 712D. In the meantime, thenorth pole portion 412D is moved to be away from the corresponding matingnorth pole portion 712D as a whole. When theconnector 20D is located at the second position, themagnetic portion 400D receives a force, which binds theconnector 20D at the second position, from the matingmagnetic portion 700D. - The present invention can be further variously applicable in addition to the aforementioned various embodiments and modifications. For example, the number of the magnets and/or the number of the mating magnets may be equal to or more than three. Moreover, the magnet and the mating magnet do not need to be exposed outward, provided that a sufficient magnetic force can be applied to each other. For example, each of the magnet and the mating magnet may be wholly buried within its holding portion. Moreover, although the magnet and the mating magnet in each of the aforementioned embodiments are fixed to the connector and the mating connector, respectively, so as not to be moved relative to the connector and the mating connector, respectively, each of the magnet and the mating magnet may be supported by its holding portion to be movable in the Z-direction. Moreover, each of the lower end of the face portion and the upper end of the mating face portion does not need to be a plane, provided that the movement of the connector is allowed. Moreover, not the contact portion of the contact but the contact portion of the mating contact may be supported to be movable in the Z-direction by a spring portion.
- While there has been described what is believed to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, those skilled in the art will recognize that other and further modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit of the invention, and it is intended to claim all such embodiments that fall within the true scope of the invention.
Claims (9)
1. A connector pair comprising a connector and a mating connector, wherein:
a movement of the connector to a first position along a first direction causes the connector to be mated with the mating connector;
another movement of the connector from the first position to a second position along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction completes a connection between the connector and the mating connector;
the connector comprises a face portion and a magnetic portion;
the face portion holds the magnetic portion which includes a north pole portion and a south pole portion arranged in the second direction;
the mating connector comprises a mating face portion and a mating magnetic portion;
the mating face portion holds the mating magnetic portion which includes a mating north pole portion and a mating south pole portion arranged in the second direction;
the face portion and the mating face portion face each other in the first direction not only when the connector is located at the first position but also when the connector is located at the second position;
when the connector is located at the first position, the magnetic portion receives a force, which urges the connector to be moved toward the second position, from the mating magnetic portion;
when the connector is located at the second position, the magnetic portion receives a force, which binds the connector at the second position, from the mating magnetic portion;
the connector comprises a stopped portion;
the mating connector comprises a stopping portion;
when the connector is located at the second position, the stopping portion faces the stopped portion in the first direction to prevent a removal of the connector from the mating connector only along the first direction;
when the connector is forced to be moved forward from the second position along the second direction, the connector is brought into abutment with the mating connector in the second direction so that the mating connector stops the connector along the second direction;
the second direction is a circumference direction about a central axis extending in parallel to the first direction; and
the movement of the connector from the first position to the second position is a rotational movement about the central axis.
2. The connector pair as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
when the connector is moved from the first position to the second position, each of the north pole portion and the south pole portion is moved forward along the second direction;
each of the north pole portion, the south pole portion, the mating north pole portion and the mating south pole portion has a predetermined end which is located forward thereof in the second direction;
when the connector is located at the first position, the predetermined end of the north pole portion is placed rearward of the predetermined end of the mating south pole portion in the second direction, and the predetermined end of the south pole portion is placed rearward of the predetermined end of the mating north pole portion in the second direction; and
as the connector approaches the second position, the predetermined end of the north pole portion approaches the predetermined end of the mating south pole portion, and the predetermined end of the south pole portion approaches the predetermined end of the mating north pole portion.
3. The connector pair as recited in claim 2 , wherein:
when the connector is located at the first position, one of the north pole portion and the south pole portion receives an attractive force from one of the mating north pole portion and the mating south pole portion and receives a repulsive force from a remaining one of the mating north pole portion and the mating south pole portion; and
each of the attractive force and the repulsive force urges the connector to be moved toward the second position.
4. The connector pair as recited in claim 1 , wherein the north pole portion is a part of a magnet having the south pole portion.
5. The connector pair as recited in claim 1 , wherein the north pole portion is a part of a magnet which is separated from another magnet having the south pole portion.
6. The connector pair as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the connector comprises a plurality of pairs each of which includes the north pole portion and the south pole portion; and
the mating connector comprises a plurality of pairs each of which includes the mating north pole portion and the mating south pole portion.
7. The connector pair as recited in claim 1 , wherein when the connector is located at the second position, at least one of the stopped portion and the stopping portion extends along an oblique direction oblique to both the first direction and the second direction to allow a removal of the connector from the mating connector along the oblique direction.
8. The connector pair as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the connector pair comprises a plurality of stopping pairs each of which includes the stopped portion and the stopping portion; and
at least two of the stopping pairs are apart from each other in the second direction.
9. The connector pair as recited in claim 1 , wherein:
the connector comprises a contact;
the contact has a spring portion and a contact portion; and
the contact portion is resiliently supported by the spring portion to be movable in the first direction.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US15/461,161 US9876310B2 (en) | 2014-12-18 | 2017-03-16 | Connector pair including a connector having a face portion and a magnetic portion connectable with a mating connector having a mating face portion and a mating magnetic portion |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2014256345A JP6537819B2 (en) | 2014-12-18 | 2014-12-18 | Connector pair |
JP2014-256345 | 2014-12-18 | ||
US14/873,534 US9680252B2 (en) | 2014-12-18 | 2015-10-02 | Connector pair including a connector having a face portion and a magnetic portion |
US15/461,161 US9876310B2 (en) | 2014-12-18 | 2017-03-16 | Connector pair including a connector having a face portion and a magnetic portion connectable with a mating connector having a mating face portion and a mating magnetic portion |
Related Parent Applications (1)
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US14/873,534 Continuation US9680252B2 (en) | 2014-12-18 | 2015-10-02 | Connector pair including a connector having a face portion and a magnetic portion |
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US20170201041A1 true US20170201041A1 (en) | 2017-07-13 |
US9876310B2 US9876310B2 (en) | 2018-01-23 |
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US15/461,161 Active US9876310B2 (en) | 2014-12-18 | 2017-03-16 | Connector pair including a connector having a face portion and a magnetic portion connectable with a mating connector having a mating face portion and a mating magnetic portion |
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US14/873,534 Active US9680252B2 (en) | 2014-12-18 | 2015-10-02 | Connector pair including a connector having a face portion and a magnetic portion |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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US20160181728A1 (en) | 2016-06-23 |
US9876310B2 (en) | 2018-01-23 |
US9680252B2 (en) | 2017-06-13 |
JP6537819B2 (en) | 2019-07-03 |
JP2016119157A (en) | 2016-06-30 |
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